HERE Maps rebrands to HERE WeGo, adds new features

HERE Maps, the mobile mapping app that was sold by Nokia to a group of car companies in late 2015, has released a major update for iOS. It also includes a name change to HERE WeGo.

Why the name change? In a blog post, HERE says:

On the name change. ‘HERE Maps’ was a bit too generic, we think. Too similar to a bunch of other, lesser apps. And the truth is that very few regular users open our app to look at a map – they want to get somewhere and find the fastest way to do that. Putting its main use – getting to places – front and centre, and into the name, is intended to help people understand what the app is for, what to expect from it and how to use it.

Among today’s updates, the HERE WeGo app offers users a revamped experience when they open it up:

When you open HERE WeGo, the ‘Where to?’ instruction in the search box invites you to enter a destination. Input this, and you’re taken straight to choosing between different modes of transport to get to where you want to go – without that extra click on the ‘find a route’ icon that used to be at the bottom of the screen. Bam!

The app also adds options to get to your destination from car-sharing firm Car2Go. Many cities in the app also include taxi info like an approximate price and wait time For people who like to ride their bike to their destination, the app has also added elevation information to make it more accurate.